By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Dec. 13 -- BHP Petroleum Great Britain PLC and partners have decided to proceed with a second phase of development at Keith field in the UK North Sea, said Marubeni Oil & Gas UK Ltd.
Keith is on Block 9/8a in production license 209.
The partners will drill one more subsea production well, expected to cost $43 million (US). They anticipate the well will increase Keith's gross proven and probable reserves to more than 21 million boe from the current 10 million boe.
They also hope to boost output to 15,000 boe/d from the current 6,900.
The well will be drilled in summer 2002, and the partners expect first production from it in November.
BHP holds 31.83% stake in Keith, BP PLC 34.83%, TotalFinaElf SA 25%, and Marubeni 8.33%.
Marubeni said it hopes to increase its oil and gas production in the North Sea through additional drilling and workovers, development of discovered and undeveloped structures, or acquisitions and swaps of assets.
The company stakes in producing fields Birch, Bruce, Columba B/D, Columba E, Pickerill, Renee, Rubie, Keith, and Larch. It also holds stakes in undeveloped prospects Pine, Elm, Fiddich, Selkirk, Bennachie, and Aiden and in Blocks 22/13a and 211/2a.